§ 21. Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards the establishment of an agreed procedure for the removal of incompetent teachers.
§ Dr. BoysonLocal education authorities may dismiss teachers on the grounds of lack of capability. Procedures are a matter of local practice, having regard to the obligations and rights contained in employment protection legislation, to the code on teachers' conditions of service agreed by the local authorities' associations and the teachers' unions, and to the content of the individual teacher's contract of service with his employer.
§ 26. Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of teachers who acquired teaching qualifications in the past five years are now employed in schools in the United Kingdom.
§ Dr. BoysonThe information requested is not available.
§ 30. Mr. Neil Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department has given to local authorities any advice as to the professional duties of a teacher to be included in his contract of employment.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. National agreements on conditions of service matters are negotiated in the Council of Local Education Authorities—School Teachers Committee; and it is for individual local education authorities to decide on the terms of school teachers' contracts in the light of those agreements. There is, however, no national collective agreement defining teachers' professional duties.